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Post by hunter480 on Mar 12, 2006 21:30:44 GMT -5
I have an AR34 that I`m currently shooting with carbon arrows, tipped with Muzzy 100 grain 3-blade broadheads. The Muzzy`s are incredible broadheads, and other than the same issues all fixed blade designs have, hard to tune, planning, etc., they really are great broadheads. I`ve been reading more and more lately about mechanical broadheads, and wondered what all of you think about them. I just read about a new mechanical called the Rage, which according to Michael Hanback and Jay Gregory, are awesome broadheads. I really like the thought of my hunting broadheads flying just like my field tips, along with the increased accuracy of the mechanicals. I have heard stories of the mechanicals both opening prematurely and not opening even upon impact, but these incidents are supposedly reasonably rare. Any one tried mechanicals and have any comments and/or suggestions?
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Post by Tye on Mar 12, 2006 22:11:33 GMT -5
I've shot an AR-37 Blade Target model. Ram plus cam, nice bow Anyways.......if you're going to try mechanical broadheads, I suggest you try out NAP Spitfires.
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Post by Woody Williams on Mar 13, 2006 7:04:57 GMT -5
I've shot an AR-37 Blade Target model. Ram plus cam, nice bow Anyways.......if you're going to try mechanical broadheads, I suggest you try out NAP Spitfires. Does the 37 designate 37 inches axle to axle? If so that would probably be a pretty good finger shooters bow.
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Post by hunter480 on Mar 13, 2006 13:57:56 GMT -5
I've shot an AR-37 Blade Target model. Ram plus cam, nice bow Anyways.......if you're going to try mechanical broadheads, I suggest you try out NAP Spitfires. Does the 37 designate 37 inches axle to axle? If so that would probably be a pretty good finger shooters bow. Yes sir, that`s exactly what that means.
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Post by jrbhunter on Mar 13, 2006 16:49:08 GMT -5
Stay with the Muzzys... I shoot 75 grain but 100 are great in 3 blade configs.
I have tracked over a dozen deer wounded by some of the "Finest" expandables on the market. What you gain in "field point-like flight" you lose in penetration, strength and reliability.
Poor shot placement will result in wounded deer... no matter what broadhead you use.... proper shot placement will result in a dead deer everytime with fixed blade broadheads. The same can't be said for expandables- Nuff said.
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Post by hunter480 on Mar 14, 2006 12:47:41 GMT -5
Stay with the Muzzys... I shoot 75 grain but 100 are great in 3 blade configs. I have tracked over a dozen deer wounded by some of the "Finest" expandables on the market. What you gain in "field point-like flight" you lose in penetration, strength and reliability. Poor shot placement will result in wounded deer... no matter what broadhead you use.... proper shot placement will result in a dead deer everytime with fixed blade broadheads. The same can't be said for expandables- Nuff said. Know what? You`re exactly right. I don`t know why I was trying to fix somethin that ain`t broke.
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Post by danf on Mar 14, 2006 19:48:59 GMT -5
Had a discussion with my boss about this last fall. He's been bowhunting for lots of years, and got me shooting my bow fairly well in less than 3 hours over 2 days...
Years ago he tested various broadheads to see which penetrated the best. His target? A dead cow that was strung up with a front end loader.... Anyway, he determined that the best broadhead for him was the NAP Thunderheads, followed by chisel points such as the Muzzy's, and lastly the mechanicals. His penetration with the mech's was horrible compared to the others. I don't know what his setup was at the time of the test, but I can say that he's still using the Thunderheads.
I used some old Muzzy's last fall and took a doe with them. No problems on pass through, but shot placement was a little low. Found her, but it took a while. Gonna use Thunderheads next season.
I've never really been sold on the mech's, even 10 years ago when I wasn't bowhunting. Anything that has moving parts can fail. From what I understand too, if you take a somewhat hard angle "quartering" shot, the mech's can have a tendency to glance off and not penetrate at all- but that's just what I heard.
HTH.
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Post by Woody Williams on Mar 14, 2006 19:59:11 GMT -5
danf, I used the Thunderheads fo a few years and was under-impressed with the blood trails thye left.. even with a double lung shot. I have been using Wasp SST Hammers 100 grain (fixed blade) the last 5 years and am well pleased with them. Of course when discussing broadheads it is all just IMHO...
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Post by lugnutz on Mar 14, 2006 22:15:07 GMT -5
I usually use the best Mech.'s that i can afford, this year i tried the spitfires (100) and had good success with them. Then on the other hand i've used some of the cheapest that Wal-Mart has to offer, and had some decent success with those as well. With that said, whatever turns ur crank will probably out perform anything else!
Lug
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Post by Rick Lyon on Mar 15, 2006 9:09:48 GMT -5
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Post by switzerland on Mar 15, 2006 13:25:10 GMT -5
I have tried just about every broadhead design I could find my first two years of bow hunting. I really like the Game Tracker Exp 100 3 blade mechanical, not the two blade. The three blade is a new stainless design. I tried Grim Reapers and found they sometimes open early to give inconsistant results. I have shot many fixed blades, but the Thunderhead worked well in a fixed blade version.
Arrow penetration is KE and with today's bows most have no need to worry when hunting whitetails. The second biggest factor is a properly tuned bow. Arrow flight is very important for straight on hits and full penetration.
Good shot placement is required for a short track and clean kill no matter what you are shooting arrow or gun, period.
IMO most modern day equipment is game worthy of hunting with, but a confident hunter in his shooting abilities and knowing where your arrow will impact is most important. You should choose a broadhead that flies well and doesn't require you to tune a lot if you are serious about hunting. I see way too many hunters who pick their bow up in sept. and think they will kill deer in Oct. A good bow hunter shoots regularly and will know if his setup is going to work for him or her.
Just my .02 cents,
Rod
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Post by hunter7x on Mar 15, 2006 13:41:42 GMT -5
love my Muzzy's
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Post by jrbhunter on Mar 15, 2006 14:16:45 GMT -5
I agree with Woody, the Wasp are a great broadhead as well. I used them religiously for years, but always considered the Muzzy to be the "Same difference" through my bows. I found an archery shop going out of business on ebay and bought 10 dozen 75 grain Muzzys at a great price... that put an end to my Wasp fixation. Both are great heads.
On the mechanicals, again I will say, I have seen every combination of "THE BEST" bows (Such as Matthews, Bowtech and Hoyts) perform pitifully with "THE BEST" expandable broadheads. Granted, some where shot by guys that pick up a bow the week before season... others were shot by guys that regularly shoot 290+ target competitions all summer long. I understand my opinion is only worth as much as the next guys... and I honestly have to downplay my feelings about expandables sometimes because my experiences CANNOT POSSIBLY be common. I'd say 85% of the animals I've seen shot with an expandable head have lead to ugly tracking jobs.... at least 25% were never recovered. Thus the reason for my personal distaste for the product, but I'm sure others have seen different.
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Post by hornharvester on Mar 15, 2006 16:29:01 GMT -5
Broadheads are like hunting bullets, they all work.......its the placement of the shot that counts. i actually use three different ones, Spitfires, Muzzys and Thunderheads. I use mechanics on deer and fixed on hogs. All have worked well for me. h.h.
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Post by psychobubba on Mar 15, 2006 17:34:44 GMT -5
i have use many broad heads poor penetration with some of the mechanicals and cant shoot through netting on ground blind. i will stick with my muzzy 100 bad to the bone good blood trail pass through all the time .i use a magnet nailed to the celling and spin test them just don't try to catch them if it falls you will not like it (10 stitches wont do that again )works on most fixed broad heads fly just like my Field tips
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Post by hunter480 on Mar 15, 2006 18:27:41 GMT -5
i have use many broad heads poor penetration with some of the mechanicals and cant shoot through netting on ground blind. i will stick with my muzzy 100 bad to the bone good blood trail pass through all the time .i use a magnet nailed to the celling and spin test them just don't try to catch them if it falls you will not like it (10 stitches wont do that again )works on most fixed broad heads fly just like my Field tips Are you saying that you were able to get your Muzzys to fly/shoot to the same point as your field tips? I had read that it was possible, but I`ve never talked to anyone who actually had done it.
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Post by danf on Mar 15, 2006 19:08:47 GMT -5
I see way too many hunters who pick their bow up in sept. and think they will kill deer in Oct. Hey- I resemble that remark! I didn't start shooting my bow at all until the last week or so of September. I shot a LOT of arrows that first week, usually between 70-100 per night. Took a doe on the second weekend of October. Learned a lot on that one, as I misjudged the distance and hit her low. Didn't hit any vitals, but man did she bleed that first 100 yards until she bedded...
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Post by psychobubba on Mar 15, 2006 20:13:27 GMT -5
yes. i have with the muzzys 3 blade 100 s gt pros 2" blazers 3 deg off set . if you spin them while they hang from a magnet you can see if they wobble get it to spin true and they fly true (some times have to use Teflon tape on treads )i use 100 grain field tips to.
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Post by hunter7x on Mar 16, 2006 12:44:22 GMT -5
i have use many broad heads poor penetration with some of the mechanicals and cant shoot through netting on ground blind. i will stick with my muzzy 100 bad to the bone good blood trail pass through all the time .i use a magnet nailed to the celling and spin test them just don't try to catch them if it falls you will not like it (10 stitches wont do that again )works on most fixed broad heads fly just like my Field tips Are you saying that you were able to get your Muzzys to fly/shoot to the same point as your field tips? I had read that it was possible, but I`ve never talked to anyone who actually had done it. I don't worry about if my Muzzy's hit thte same spot as my field tips do. I only make sure they group and move my sights occordingly. Gotta shot them to make sure of where they are going to hit no matter what you shoot for hunting.
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Post by jrbhunter on Mar 16, 2006 12:56:47 GMT -5
It's very important to paper tune your bow with any fixed blade broadhead. I also like to turn my inserts such that the fletchings and blades line up if at all possible. I no longer shoot helicle fletchings because they were a paint to tune with the Muzzy's... 4 inch straight TreColors work great.
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